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The death of an Augusta man fatally shot during a Feb. 24 shooting on Blanchard Road was determined to be a justifiable homicide, Columbia County sheriff’s Capt. Steve Morris said Tuesday.

Patrick Smith, 33, was shot when he and accomplice Anthony Graddy, 35, of the 4300 block of Creek View Drive in Hephzibah, entered the home at 627 Blanchard Road in Evans to rob those inside, Morris said.

Grovetown city officials approved paying for an investigation into a city Department of Public Safety employee Monday, but refuse to say who or why.

City Council members held a closed-door session for about 45 minutes Monday afternoon. When they emerged, the council voted to spend up to $3,000 for a private investigator to look into allegations of misconduct against a public safety employee.

At the monthly city council meeting, they approved placing a Sunday sales referendum on the ballot in the July 31 primary election. In January, they asked City Attorney Barry Fleming to draw up the necessary resolutions to place the referendum on the primary ballot.

The referendum would allow the sale of packaged alcohol at convenience, grocery and package stores from 12:30-11z;30 p.m. on Sunday.

Grovetown city officials Monday approved paying for an investigation into a city Department of Public Safety employee, but refuse to say who or why.

City Council members held a closed-door session for more than an hour Monday afternoon. When they emerged, the council voted to spend up to $3,000 for an unnamed outside agency to investigate allegations of misconduct against a public safety employee.

Mayor George James refused to reveal the name of the employee or the nature of the allegations.

Hot-air balloon pilot Edward Ristaino, who plummeted to his death in a South Georgia storm, used quick thinking to save the lives of his five skydiving passengers, according to a Columbia County man who parachuted to safety.

“He was definitely a hero that day, for all of us,” said Dan Eaton, a skydiving instructor from Appling, who had accompanied Ristaino on a half-dozen jumps in recent years. “He was looking out for our interests first.”

• Two Columbia County Alternative School students went before the school system hearing officer on Feb. 29 for an accumulation of offenses and were expelled for a year.

• A Columbia County Alternative School student went before the school system hearing officer on Feb. 29 for an accumulation of offenses and was expelled for the remainder of this school year and the first semester of next year.